A beautiful breeze woke us up for fajar this morning at 5:20am. Since it was still so early, I tried to go back to sleep but, the sweet warmth of the sun with a cool breeze just wouldn’t let me sleep. After talk with my mom and breakfast , I went for a walk at the Palmer’s Park right next to our apartment. It was nice a quiet with few morning walkers at the park. It was just a beautiful spring day in Chicago. The grasses couldn’t be greener. The blades were so thin, shiny, and high uprooting towards the source of its energy. In between the grasses bloomed yellow dandelions through out the fields. It almost reminded me of back home fields full of mustard flowers. It was just breathtaking and so serene and soothing to the mind and body. The birds were flying from branch to branch and flower to flower to feed on. The squirrels (the are much thinner than UH squirrels) were sniffing and snickering away searching for their morning meal. All I could say is Subhanallah, as I enjoyed my walk. I think moving up north to the Midwest and experiencing bitter winters you start appreciating the rebirth of life around you in Spring and summer much more than living in the South. Right when I was about to cross the street to come home came trails of 2-3 year olds from the daycare near by with ropes around their waist following their teachers almost like a ducklings following the mother duck. They were so adorable and I thought that was an ingenious safety measure. You should have seen the kiddos when they got to the playground, they were running around everywhere full of giggles and laughs, Mashallah.

Since I get pooped a bit more than usual now I had to stop to take a rest. So, during that time I decided to read the book I had just picked up from the library called Reclaiming Our Health (Exploding the Medical Myth and Embracing the Source of True Healing) by John Robbins. Its a really good read so far I would highly recommend it for anyone living in the US and are so depended on the disease care system of ours that usually ends up cheating you in your health care with or without insurance. I ran into such alternative methods during my internship at UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s, Place of Wellness. Part of my research were on such methods and the services they provided were alternative medicine with regular treatment.

Nonetheless, I just had to share such a beautiful morning with everyone else. As one of the passerby said, “Have a Blessed DAY!” I hope all of you have a fabulous morning like me!

As’salamualikum

Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) when he asked, “Is anyone of you unable to earn a thousand good deeds?” One of those present asked: “How can one earn thousand good deeds in a day?” He (PBUH) replied, “By saying: Subhan Allah a hundred times, then one thousand good deeds will be recorded for him or one thousand sins will be blotted out from his record.”
[Muslim].

As I watched the news my jaws dropped in awe and horror or the news that was unfolding before my eyes. In disbelief of what one would do for so-called “caste system” and “love marriage” in the Indian culture. Since we share the same sub-continent of Asia and once was the same country…I empathize with my “desi” people. I won’t say much and let the story tell it self.

Prosecutors: Father Killed Pregnant Daughter Over Marriage Choice

Indian Community Reeling Over Alleged Domestic Violence

POSTED: 2:43 pm CST January 2, 2008

UPDATED: 7:42 pm CST January 2, 2008

MARKHAM, Ill. — The Hindu caste system was outlawed in India years ago, but prosecutors say that system played a role in the mind of the man who set the fire that killed his own pregnant daughter, 3-year-old grandson and the son-in-law prosecutors say he didn’t like.

The fire was set Saturday, but prosecutors say the fuse was lit long ago when 22-year-old Monika Rani married a man from a lower social and religious caste without asking her father’s permission.In a hearing at the Markham courthouse Tuesday morning, Cook County Judge Martin McDonough ordered Oak Forest’s Subhash Chander, 57, held without bond in connection with the arson and killing of Chander’s pregnant daughter Monika Rani, 22; her husband Rajesh Kumar, 30; and their son Vansh.This was the third Chicago-area case in one year involving an Indian family, domestic violence and fire. NBC 5 asked counselors who serve the Indian community about that on Wednesday.The Hamdard Center in Addison provides domestic violence counseling to more than 270 Indian and Pakistani families every year. Chairman Dr. Mohammad Hamid said the threat to family honor is a common thread in these cases, but said there is no evidence domestic violence is more common in the Indian community than other cultures.The difference, counselors said, is that Indian families often refuse to get help before anger turns to rage.”They want to keep this a private matter and solve it at home,” said Hamid.Relatives of Chander have insisted he did not set the fire.Counselors said if the allegations are true, this is an extreme and isolated case they hope will call attention to the problem of domestic violence in every community.

(1. The mutual increase diverts you,) (2. Until you visit the graves.) (3. Nay! You shall come to know!) (4. Again nay! You shall come to know!) (4. Again nay! You shall come to know!) (5. Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge.) (6. Verily, you shall see the blazing Fire!) (7. And again, you shall see it with certainty of sight!) (8. Then on that Day you shall be asked about the delights!)

Subhanallah…loss of words!

We all get preoccupied by the love of this world, its delight, and its adornment. This distracts us from seeking and desiring the Hereafter. Instead we have to fight our own desires and many times do things that we may not want to do but, that’s the RIGHT thing. Not be a slave of our own desires… Instead do what would please our Creator! But, how long will we do that for? That will too end soon. We have to be patient and give up temporary satisfaction for eternal satisfaction. Look to this world as a station we are just stopping at until our final abode…

Hadith:

The Son of Adam says, “My wealth, my wealth.” But do you get anything (of benefit) from your wealth except for that which you ate and you finished it, or that which you clothed yourself with and you wore it out, or that which you gave as charity and you have spent it)” Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i

Red, white, and blue…. land of freedom! ‘The sea to shining sea”, America the Beautiful, has been attracting millions for centuries for all the freedom, democracy, and opportunities it has to offer. Not only that they have taken an active approach globally to bring that same concept of freedom, peace and democracy. Meanwhile, they’ve overlooked the poverty, violence, streets full of homeless, empty laps of mothers who lost their sons over drugs and gang violence.

Youth violence is widespread in the United States (U.S.). It is the second leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 24.

Over 780,000 violence-related injuries in young people age 10 to 24 were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2004.

5,570 young people age 10 to 24 were murdered—an average of 16 each day—in 2003.

I remember in seventh grade our school closing because of a drive by shooting threat was given for a student at our school. Two Hispanic boys filled our hall ways with blood because of rival gangs. I lived in the outskirts of the city in Houston….Youth-gang related homicides have risen by ore than 50 percent according to Professor James Alan Fox, a leading criminologist at Northeastern University. Gang-related homicides account for approximately half of all homicides in Chicago, the city that had the highest total number of homicides of any city in the country in 2003. Gang-related homicides also account for approximately half of all homicides in Los
Angeles, which led the nation in total homicides the year before (2002).

When money is taken away from social services, governmental aid, after school programs, or jobs are lost, and people roam the streets unemployed they have to look for other means for food and to occupy their time. This leads to drugs, gangs, depression, prostitution, homeless on the streets…Everyone wants to belong and want their share of piece of the ‘American Dream’. Risk factors for youth violence include:

• Prior history of violence
• Drug, alcohol, or tobacco use
• Association with delinquent peers
• Poor family functioning
• Poor grades in school
• Poverty in the community

So, who is going to come and fix these problems in our own backyard? Iraqis? Israelis? Iranians? We want to close our eyes and ears to the terrorism within the country that is leading to shooting like Columbine, Virginia Tech? Brutal gang violence, murders, drugs, between the Bloods, Crypts, MS 13, Hells Angel, Vice Lords, Mexican Mafia, that’s killing the innocents and taking lives of people with sex/drugs/alcohol and more?

While we spend billion of dollars overseas to bring democracy and peace our streets keeps pouring with bloods of the youth. As unemployment rises, so does homeless, depression, drugs, poverty…This isn’t just a minority issues. ITS AN AMERICAN ISSUE that is sucking in lives of the youth and their families…We need to put money into the public school system (especially in the impoverish neighborhoods), find jobs for the unemployed, give money to after school programs/social services, and cleanup the streets….

We have to be worried that our own kids might fall into the crossfire of the gang violence, we maybe the victims burglary because drug addict needs money….

We need to open our eyes and fix the terrorism within the country…This land of the free with its vast skies and purple mountains isn’t as free as we think…

Since I was in middle school I have been involved in extracurricular activities in school and community services. Through out my life its been in my second nature to give back and help people who are in need. Than I began gaining more knowledge in our deen and doing more dawah work….this took all of that into another level. So, I am NOT doing that I feel like I have a HUGE VOID in my life.

“Who believe in the Ghaib and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend out of what we have provided for them (i.e. give Zakat , spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also in Allahs Cause: Quran 2:3

“They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred and orphans and AlMasakin (the poor) and the wayfarers, and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allah knows it well. ” Quran 2:215

“ Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr: A man asked the Prophet , “What sort of deeds or (what qualities of) Islam are good?” The Prophet replied, ‘To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not Know” Book: 2 Hadith: #11

There are numerous verses and hadith about visiting the sick, helping the poor, and those in need. Its obligatory upon us to share the knowledge we know, its a huge part of our sunnah. Therefore, all these things I take very seriously and when I don’t have that in my life I am like fish without water.

Subhanallah Allah Subhana WAtala is so GREAT…He has blessed me with some amazing sisters already from Chicago. These sisters started an amazing organization called, Muslims Sisters Association with an unique goal and services:

Visiting the Sick

Assisting our elders

Assisting sisters that just had a baby

Giving support to a sister that may have lost their love ones or going through difficult times

Finding resources for jobs

Hold various type of dawah events, “Cover Me Beautiful”

Help one of our members if in need

Helping a sister within the Ummah

So, I am beyond excited! I mean there are things going on in Chicago, but not so much youth/sisters activities on the South side. Everything seems to be too far from where I live. Inshallah I’m gonna go with one of the sisters today to visit a sister who is going through some hard times right now.

Off topic! One of the masjids here feeds the homeless EVERY SUNDAY and during Ramadan they feed the homeless EVERY DAY…Pretty amazing, huh? Yes, there’s suffering around the world but, there are so many in need and suffering in our own backyard.

If you’d like to donate to help us in our efforts, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or email. Any generosity are welcome! Jazza kallahu khairin. May Allah accept all our efforts. Ameen!

Allah hears the supplication and knows those who deserve help and triumph.

While reading this it made me reflect on the recent catastrophic cyclone that Bangladesh was hit with. Subhanallah that is one of the worst cyclones that has hit Bangladesh in the last three or four decades if not longer. We’ve had our share of natural disasters. It was so painful for me to watch ten children who were sitting around and crying and saying how their parents are dead, uncle/aunts are dead, and grandparents are dead. Practically the entire family of these children have been wiped out. There aren’t any fresh water to drink, no food, dead bodies everywhere, no shelter…I can’t even imagine. One lady was crying and saying how her husband died on his way to the market and how there’s no food and wishes she was dead instead of him. But, every trial that we are afflicted with is a favor from Allah. Its a way for us to expiate our sins and to tests us to see if we really do believe in Him. What do you do when everything you know, everything that gives meaning in your life is wiped out? Do you give up on your faith and denounce everything? Say, the hell with life, I don’t wanna live anymore?Obviously, no! That’s when we hold on to our deen, clench to it with all our might, our strength, with our teeth, and supplicate to Allah to make it easy. Ultimately, we are slaves of Allah and our purpose in life is to Worship Him Alone, Subhana Watala.Its like a surgeon losses his hands, a mother losses her daughter, old man becomes blind, a rich person becomes poor… Everything that gives meaning to ‘our lives’ in the worldly sense is gone!

BUT, WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING…we rebuild…We Don’t GIVE UP!!! When life brings you to your knees, your are in the best position to pray. Put your tawakkul (trust) in Allah that he’ll help you make it through.

May Allah make it easy on all of us to go through any tests that befalls us and make it easy for the Muslims in Bangladesh to come closer to Him, Subhana WAtala. Ameen